Curious if there are any decent shops in hibbing? The selection in grand rapids is fairly slim and I'm wondering if hibbing would be any better. If not then I'll have to plan a trip to duluth and superior
Asked a friend who's from there and into craft beer and said there honestly isn't much, said your best bet is Super One Foods.
I'd be willing to bet Grand Rapids is much better. Where have you gone in Grand Rapids. They actually aren't too bad for off-sale.
I checked out pokegama liquors and Jerry's which have both been pretty good. Honestly the issue is probably that I was spoiled with the selection I had in Indiana. I just wish there was a place that had more than 1 or 2 bombers available and hoppy stuff that wasn't 4 months old
yeah you gotta watch dates out there in Grand Rapids particulary at Jerry's...seriously though Hibbing will be much worse. Closest options are Brainerd (Cashwise in Baxter or Westside in Baxter) or Superior, WI (Keystone). Duluth/Superior is a much better beer destination if you want to hit some breweries and get growlers. Brainerd/Nisswa has three breweries. Two are below average (Gull Dam and Big Axe) and one is solid (Jackpine). I guess Gull Dam is alright if you like music and run of the mill beer..A real arrogant cocky atmosphere there where they don't realize how shitty their beer is. They got rid of their brewer (or perhaps he just left knowing the direction they were going with things)..either way their beer has taken a big hit since they first opened. Big Axe has been inconsistent. I'm not writing them off yet but it has been mixed the three times I have been there. Jackpine is good but not much of a facility. If you go west Bemidji Brewing is the best of all these but off-sale in Bemidji is not as good as in Brainerd or Superior.
You might find Not Your Father's Rootbeer up there. Should be some Bent Paddle and Castle Danger too. My brother lives up in the region and claims that Surly has taken off up there, and he actually stops somewhere in Hibbing to buy beer when he's in town. I was up there in August and it was better than two years ago when I was trying to decide between Beck's and Sam Adams Summer Ale.
I lived in Brainerd for three years and was happy to leave. It pretty sums up the area, that and a lot of rural poverty. Most of the obnoxious arrogance is new money, suburban folk though up for the weekend.
I go to Hibbing occasionally to visit family. Super One has a decent selection, but check dates. I've seen some serious shelf turds there. Prices are terrible, too. I doubt it's any better than Grand Rapids. I'd make the Duluth trip, and you can make a bonus Superior trip and pick up some Wisconsin exclusives. Definitely pick up some New Glarus. If you like lagers, few breweries in America do them better.
